The scalpers are out already

A city ordinance bans selling unofficial Major League Baseball merchandise and other items on downtown streets before a game -- see the "Clean Zone" map -- and scalping is no longer allowed at Tropicana Field.

But at least one entrepreneur has been spotted standing on Central Avenue at Eighth Street with a fistful of tickets in the air. Asking price: $300 apiece.

One man in a black SUV swerved over and asked the man if he had any tickets for $100 -- the lowest face-value tickets to the game. No dice.

But the scalper, who wouldn't give his full name, had a cell phone that wouldn't stop ringing.

About the blog

The Tampa Bay Rays will head into the 2015 season with Evan Longoria, Chris Archer, Alex Cobb and plenty of new faces, including manager Kevin Cash. Can they upend the Orioles in the highly competitive AL East? Come here to follow Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.